I'm sorry, but soccer to me is like the metric system and communism - just another European innovation that they keep trying to tell me is great and something that the U.S. should support.

As a red-blooded American, I can't support a game that can end in a tie, doesn't really have a set time of play - as far as I can tell, the game just ends after the refs decide they've played enough extra (injury) minutes, and be decided on penalty kicks - wouldn't that be an exciting NBA final? Dallas & Miami tied after two overtimes - and now they will each get to shoot 5 free throws?

So the rest of the world plays Soccer (Football)? So what, I'm going to assume that's because all they can afford is one ball.

As Americans we must resist this ridiculous game and continue to support sports that require sophisticated and expensive technology like football helmets and pads, baseball gloves and bats and even the latest $100 Air Jordans and breakaway rims for basketball.

I'm sorry, but soccer to me is like the metric system and communism - just another European innovation that they keep trying to tell me is great and something that the U.S. should support.

As a red-blooded American, I can't support a game that can end in a tie, doesn't really have a set time of play - as far as I can tell, the game just ends after the refs decide they've played enough extra (injury) minutes, and be decided on penalty kicks - wouldn't that be an exciting NBA final? Dallas & Miami tied after two overtimes - and now they will each get to shoot 5 free throws?

So the rest of the world plays Soccer (Football)? So what, I'm going to assume that's because all they can afford is one ball.

As Americans we must resist this ridiculous game and continue to support sports that require sophisticated and expensive technology like football helmets and pads, baseball gloves and bats and even the latest $100 Air Jordans and breakaway rims for basketball.

I'm sorry, but soccer to me is like the metric system and communism - just another European innovation that they keep trying to tell me is great and something that the U.S. should support.

As a red-blooded American, I can't support a game that can end in a tie, doesn't really have a set time of play - as far as I can tell, the game just ends after the refs decide they've played enough extra (injury) minutes, and be decided on penalty kicks - wouldn't that be an exciting NBA final? Dallas & Miami tied after two overtimes - and now they will each get to shoot 5 free throws?

So the rest of the world plays Soccer (Football)? So what, I'm going to assume that's because all they can afford is one ball.

As Americans we must resist this ridiculous game and continue to support sports that require sophisticated and expensive technology like football helmets and pads, baseball gloves and bats and even the latest $100 Air Jordans and breakaway rims for basketball.

Generally agreed. Although I do have a curiously ferocious devotion to Ruud van Nistelrooy for no real reason other than I like watching him play.

Soccer isn't as popular in Australia as it is in Europe, it generally sits behind AFL/Rugby League/Rugby Union. That might change though, after the thrilling 3-1 comeback win lagainst Japan last night. The Aussies are rough and lack finesse, but it will be great if they make it through to the second phase.

Okay, starting watching a bit of World Cup soccer. Enjoying it more than I thought, but here are some issues about why I think it'll never catch on in the US at the highest level.

1. It is primarily a defensive game. it's far too easy to sit on a 1-0 lead, even if you're a man down.
2. All the diving and whining every time someone goes near you. There should be an enforced diving penalty.
3. The yellow card/red card thing has to go. "If you do something bad I will wave a small, yellow card in your general direction. I may write your name on it or something."
4. There simply are not enough "oohhhh" moments. I keep hearing about how dominant certain players are, and they get to exhibit this once or twice a game.
5. The camera distance presents an obstacle to seeing all the moves and jukes of the players that make the game interesting. (but the camera work this time around seems a bit better than I've seen it before).
6. The best players aren't American.

I realize I'm missing most/all of the subtle points that make enthusiasts love the sport.

To these points above (I especially laugh at #2--they carry out a stretcher for some guy and 5 minutes later he's scoring a goal), I find it very difficult to take a sport seriously when on the highest professional level you have players scoring goals for the OTHER team not that infrequently.

I'm sorry, but soccer to me is like the metric system and communism - just another European innovation that they keep trying to tell me is great and something that the U.S. should support.

As a red-blooded American, I can't support a game that can end in a tie, doesn't really have a set time of play - as far as I can tell, the game just ends after the refs decide they've played enough extra (injury) minutes, and be decided on penalty kicks - wouldn't that be an exciting NBA final? Dallas & Miami tied after two overtimes - and now they will each get to shoot 5 free throws?

So the rest of the world plays Soccer (Football)? So what, I'm going to assume that's because all they can afford is one ball.

As Americans we must resist this ridiculous game and continue to support sports that require sophisticated and expensive technology like football helmets and pads, baseball gloves and bats and even the latest $100 Air Jordans and breakaway rims for basketball.

You are obviously a fan of Jack Kemp (who famously said that soccer is socialist and (US) football is capitalistic).

Generally agreed. Although I do have a curiously ferocious devotion to Ruud van Nistelrooy for no real reason other than I like watching him play.

That is curious.I am a big Utd fan and love Ruud although he will probably be on his way.But I wouldnt have thought watching him would be very pleasurable,I enjoy his 3 yard tap ins,as a goal is a goal no matter how beautiful but I don't think he is the most graceful player around.

To these points above (I especially laugh at #2--they carry out a stretcher for some guy and 5 minutes later he's scoring a goal), I find it very difficult to take a sport seriously when on the highest professional level you have players scoring goals for the OTHER team not that infrequently.

koji

You forgot your Anyway, you are incorrect that own goals occur 'not that infrequently'; they are indeed infrequent, and are usually the result of an involuntarliy deflection rather than a misdirected clearance attempt (which I assume is what you meant by 'on the highest professional level you have players scoring goals for the OTHER team'). Likewise, the complaint about diving, while not w/o some basis, is exaggerated: players don't dive and whine "every time someone goes near them". Players do often fall down when someone tackles them or runs in to them. Try running for 45 minutes straight at varying speeds and remain standing when someone charges or slides in to you (usually while you're sprinting). Then let's see you hop right up with a smile on your face after having your ankle, shin etc. mashed by a bulldozing defender (remember - no pads!). I suspect the people complaining about diving and whining have never played the game...

You forgot your Anyway, you are incorrect that own goals occur 'not that infrequently'; they are indeed infrequent, and are usually the result of an involuntarliy deflection rather than a misdirected clearance attempt (which I assume is what you meant by 'on the highest professional level you have players scoring goals for the OTHER team'). Likewise, the complaint about diving, while not w/o some basis, is exaggerated: players don't dive and whine "every time someone goes near them". Players do often fall down when someone tackles them or runs in to them. Try running for 45 minutes straight at varying speeds and remain standing when someone charges or slides in to you (usually while you're sprinting). Then let's see you hop right up with a smile on your face after having your ankle, shin etc. mashed by a bulldozing defender (remember - no pads!). I suspect the people complaining about diving and whining have never played the game...

That's true to an extent, but let's be honest, they do dramatize to make sure the refs see.

You forgot your Anyway, you are incorrect that own goals occur 'not that infrequently'; they are indeed infrequent, and are usually the result of an involuntarliy deflection rather than a misdirected clearance attempt (which I assume is what you meant by 'on the highest professional level you have players scoring goals for the OTHER team'). Likewise, the complaint about diving, while not w/o some basis, is exaggerated: players don't dive and whine "every time someone goes near them". Players do often fall down when someone tackles them or runs in to them. Try running for 45 minutes straight at varying speeds and remain standing when someone charges or slides in to you (usually while you're sprinting). Then let's see you hop right up with a smile on your face after having your ankle, shin etc. mashed by a bulldozing defender (remember - no pads!). I suspect the people complaining about diving and whining have never played the game...

I dunno... guards in basketball typically end up flat on their backs on a hardwood floor after full-speed, mid-air collisions with guys who can outweigh them by as much as 80 to 100 pounds (in the case of some of the league's bigger centers and power forwards--a lot more if we're talking about Shaq), and they're expected to get right back up, take a couple free throws, and do it all over again next play. Iverson and Dwyane Wade, in particular, do it all game, every game.

Of course, there are floppers in basketball, too, and it can be ridiculous--which is why we bitch and moan about it when it happens.

I dunno... guards in basketball typically end up flat on their backs on a hardwood floor after full-speed, mid-air collisions with guys who can outweigh them by as much as 80 to 100 pounds (in the case of some of the league's bigger centers and power forwards--a lot more if we're talking about Shaq), and they're expected to get right back up, take a couple free throws, and do it all over again next play. Iverson and Dwyane Wade, in particular, do it all game, every game.

Of course, there are floppers in basketball, too, and it can be ridiculous--which is why we bitch and moan about it when it happens.

Yes, fouled players do dramatize things a bit for the referee's sake, although this is somewhat cultural, rather than a given aspect of the game (British and northern European players tend to be a bit more stoic). And yes, it has gotten worse in recent years (if I'm not mistaken a 'no-diving-in-the-penalty-area rule was implemented for the 2002 cup, a rule that saw Totti unjustly sent off against S. Korea )

Toe/ankle/foot/shin/knee - these are the areas being kicked/stepped-on/smashed, often by a cleated foot. It's a different kind of pain - I can take bangs and bumps on the basketball court (I know, I'm not playing against NBA-sized opponents) without too much to-do, but my three year olds hop on my toes and I'm hobbled, grimacing for a minute or two...